Minnow net



Jan. 16, 1940. G. w. M INTIRE 2,187,460

MINNOW NET Filed Sept. 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Jan. 16, 1940. e. w. M INTIRE 2,187,460

MINNOW NET Filed Sept. 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q. WMeInZifle IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

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Patented Jan. 16, 1940 9 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to minnow nets, the primary object of the invention being to provide a minnow net having means whereby the minnows caught therein may be readily released or transferred to a bait bucket, without the necessity of dumping or inverting the minnow net, which is not only an inconvenient operation but usually results in the loss of minnows.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discharge opening in a minnow net, the discharge opening being normally closed by means of a hinged closure moved to its open position under the weight of the minnows held in the net.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the details of construction hereinafter describedand claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a minnow net supplied with a closure constructed in accordance with the invention, the net being shown as positioned over a minnow bucket, discharging minnows.

Figure 2 is a bottom view showing the closure as closed.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the closure. Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3. T

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, a minnow net is indicated by the reference character 5, and as shown, the net is provided with an opening formed substantially centrally thereof.

The closure forming the subject matter of this invention includes upper and lower ring members 6 and 1 respectively, between which the mesh material of which the net is formed, is secured. Screws Bact to draw the ring members 6 and 1 together into clamping relation with the net proper. Hingedly secured to the ring member I is a disk-like closure 9 which is formed with an annular flange adapted to fit against the ring' section I when the closure 9 is moved to its closing position.

A pivoted latch member H1 is mounted on the ring section 5 and is adapted to engage the keeper H secured to the closure 9 to hold the closure 9 in its active or closing position. Connected with the latch member is a spring l2 that normally acts to hold the pivoted latch member into contact with the keeper I I. h

Supported adjacent to the latch member, is a guide arm E3 formed with an eye, through which the cord or Wire 14 extends, the cord or wire l4 being designed to release the latch member to allow the closure 9 to swing to its open position under the weight of the minnows caught in the net.

The closure is provided with openings l5 whereby the water may pass through the openings of the closure to reduce the resistance offered when the net is being lifted from the water.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the net has been positioned in the water and minnows have been caught therein, the net is held over a minnow bucket such as indicated at A in Figure 1 of the drawings. The cord or wire i4 is now pulled, moving the pivoted latch member out of engagement with the keeper II. closure 9 will now swing downwardly under the weight of the minnows resting on the closure,

The

releasing the minnows to the minnow bucket in which the minnows are to be carried.

I claim: In a minnow net, a. mesh body portion having a discharge opening in the bottom thereof, ring members secured to the body portion and adapted to clamp the material of the body portion at the opening, a perforated closure hingedly connected with one of the ring members and adapted to swing within the ring members closing the discharge opening, a keeper mounted on the closure, a pivoted latch member secured to one of the ring members, a spring for normally holding the latch member into engagement with the keeper holding the closure in its closed position, a wire connected with the pivoted latch member and extending to a point remote from the body portion, said wire member adapted to be operated to release the pivoted latch member, and said closure adapted to .swing to its open position under the weight'of the minnows in said net, releasing the minnows.

GEORGE W. 'MCINTIRE. 

